Modulator for heating systems



Miy 20, 1930. '7 M. HUTCHISON 1,759,310

MODULATOR FOR HEATING SYSTEMS Filed April 1 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l- 1 -2 l 7' I l llllll l lllllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Inuenr J1? Fran/k Hufokalsan,

5. @Mw cavity.

May 20, 1-930.

M. F. HUTCHISON MODULATOR FOR HEATING SYSTEMS Filed A ril 1 1920 2 Sheets-Shem". 2

Patented May. 20, 1930 1 UNITED STATES v 1.35am

PATa' FFICE], v

MAURICE FRANK UrcHIsoN, or HERNDGN, VIRGINIA; CLARE n HU'roHIsoN "ADMINISTRATRIX or SAID MAURICE FRANK HUTCHISON, DECEASED IVJIOI DULA'IE01R FOR HEATING SYSTEMS Application filed ril 1,

This invention relates to heating systems and has for its object the provision of simple and inexpensive means whereby the occupant of a room may have the temperature of 5 the room automatically maintained at any desired-degree. Thisstated object and other incidental objects which will appear in the course i of the following description are attained in the use of such mechanism as is il- 1 lustrated in the accompanying drawings and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. v

In the drawings Fig 1 is an elevation of a radiator having one embodiment of my invention applied thereto. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the attachmentshown in Fig. 1, parts being shown in '20. section. p

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the thermostat. Fig.4 is an elevation of-a radiator equipped with another form of the invention. Fig. 5 is anenlarged sectional elevation of 2 the thermostatic valve shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the thermostat with the handle in section.

- The radiator-1 is of the'usual or any 'preferred form and'in both illustrated applications of the invention is part of a one-pipe steam or vapor heating system, the steam or vapor forheating the radiator beingsupplied through a pipe 2 and thewater of condensation returning to the boiler through the same pipe. A cut-off valve3 is interposed in the pipe 2 in the usual manner. r

As is well known, the radiator is heated section by section as the heating agent enters and the air in the radiator must be driven out or the entrance of the heating agent will be in Fig. 2, and a port 6 in the side of the tube 4 establishes communication between the interior of the cylinder and the bore of the tube.

1920. Serial No. 370,471;

A valve 7 is provided to close or open the port 6, and said valve is carried by a flexible hollow disk or diaphragm 8, housed within the-casing and resting at its peripheral edge uponan internal annular shoulder 9 on the I Wall of the casing. A nipple 10 leads from said diaphragm and a spring 10 is coiled around said nipple between the diaphragm and the top of the casing, as shown in Fig. 2, to hold the diaphragm to its seat on the shoulder 9, with the valve 7 in proper alignment with the port 6. I A flexible pipe 10 is connected to and'communicates with the nipple and this pipe should be long enough to ex tend entirely across the radiator. 'The free extremity of this pipe is bent on itself toform a spiral coil 11 which may bear against the side of a radiator section and the pipe is filled 'free circulation of air therethr'ough so that it will not become hot and may be grasped without discomfort.

The use of the device is thought to be evi-v dent. The coil 11 may be placed against any section of the radiator and will be held in the set position by the spring 12, bearing against the adjacent section. Fig. 1, showing the'coil againstthe thirdsoction and the spring bearing against the second section. The valve 8 bein'gopen the heating agent will fill the first three sections of the radiator, driving out the air contained therein throughthe vent tube 4, it being noted that the nipple 10" is spaced away from the top of the casing, so that the air may escape around it. p

WVhen the steam or vapor enters thethird radiatorsection and heats the same. the heat" at once raises the temperature of thecoil 11 and the mercury or other fluid contained in the 'pipe 10 ezrp-andsso that the diaphragm 8 i will be causedto carry the valve? against the entrance of additional steam.

'ture of the room will thus be automatically side of the vent tubev and close the port 6. The further escape of air will thus be cut off and the pressure of the trapped air will preventthe steam flowing farther into theradis ator. As the steam condenses, the temperature of the radiator will drop and the fluid in the pipe will contract whereuponthe diaphragm and valve will move from the port 6.

Escape of air will then occur followed by the The temperamaintained at the desired degree and the occupant will not be required to constantly open and close the supply valve 3.. The han-. dle 16 may be grasped to place the device at any point of the radiator and thespr'ing 12 will firmly hold the device in place without the use of any hooks or other devices which could not be detached without considerable labor. V I i The attachn'ient maybe utilized in connection with the radiators in general use, all

side of the strapor bracket.

, for-the vent 4. V V

- In the form shown in Figs. 4c, 5 and 6, the

that is necessary being to detach the usual vent or air escape valve and substitute thereflexible pipe 20 is connected directlyto the radiatorat the end remote from the supply pipe ,andfthe free end of the pipe is equipped with a handle 2-1, which may be of asbestos or other heat-resisting material so that it may be freely. grasped. A strap or bracket 22 is secured 'uponthe pipe over a port 23, therein, anda leaf spring 24 is secured to the pipe at a point diametrically opposite the casing to engage a radiator sectionand hold the casing against an adjacent section as shown'oin Fig;

4. fA valve 25'is arranged to close the portv 23 and said valve is carried by a thermostatic space between the pipe and the diaphragm.

To, overcome the possible formation of a vacuum which would hold the valve 25 seated, I provide an inwardly opening check valve 27. controlling a port in the handle 21. Should a vacuum tend to formatmospheric pressure will open the valve and break the vacuum. Obiously in this form of'the invention, the entire thermostatic member is exposed to the action oft-heheat thrown off by the radiator section and it will, therefore,

respond very quickly. to variations in the.

temperature. 7

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by- Letters Patent of the United States,is

1. The combination with aradiator, of a. vent secured therein, a casing over said vent, a valve in the casing controlling'theflow through the vent, a diaphragm in the casing carrying said valve,-a flexi le pipe leading into the casing, means for supporting the free end of the pipe in contact with a radiator section, and a thermostatic liquid in saidip'ipe exerting pressure upon said diaphragm.

2. The combination with a radiator, of a vent secured therein, a casing over said vent, a valve in the casing controlling the flow through thevent, a diaphragm in the casing carrying said valve, a flexible pipe leading into the casing, the free end of the pipe form-- ing a coil, a ring secured upon said coil, a handle c-onnectedto said ring,-and a spring attached to the coil'and adapted to bear against a radiator section and holdthecoil in contact with an adjoining radiator section. j .3. The combination 'with a radiator, of'avent secured therein, a valve controllingjthe flow through the vent, a flexible pipe leading end of the pipe in contact with a radiator section, and a thermostatic liquid insaid pipe adapted to actuate the valve through'expan sion and contraction of said liquid, said liquid being heated directly at a point of contact of the supporting means with the radiator.

4. The] combination with a radiatorofa; i flexible vent pipe adapted to contain a ther-t mostatic liquid connected with said radiator, V a thermostatic'valve adapted -tobe actuated by the expansionand contraction of said liquid in said pipe and controlling the vent in' the radiator, and means for supporting the free end of the pipe in contactwiththe rad i ator section. V i

5 As a new article of manufacture, de-. vice forrattachment to the vent pipe of a ra'diator, comprising a flexible pipe, 21 thrmo= static valve controlling the flow through said vent pipe, and means for supporting one end 7, of said flexible pipe in contact with, a radiator'j' I section, the other end of the flexible pipe adapted to be connected to, the thermostatic valve controlling the vent of the radiator.v

MAURICE FRANK HUTCHISON.

90 to the valve, means for supporting the free 7 

